But, whether we imderstand the expressions as relating to the Gospel of Christ, or to his person,]
It must of necessity be understood as declaring, that in Christ Jesus there is life, even eternal life — •
[The Apostle testified of Christ, as he says in a subse- quent chapter of this Epistle : " We have seen and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the v.orld "." If we inquire more particularly what the substance of his testi- mony was, he informs us : " This is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son." "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life ; and this life is in his Son : he that hath the Son hath life ; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life?."
Thus we see, in fact, that, whether we understand the pas- sage as speaking of the Gospel, or of Christ himself, it comes to the i^ame ])oint. If the Gospel be spoken of, it is as reveal- ing Christ : if Christ be sj)()ken of, it is as revealed in the Gos]){'l ; or, in other words, as being " the way, the truth, and the life-'."
Bear in mind then, that all that is spoken of Christ in the holy (idspcls is true: the Apostles were ear-witnesses, and eye-witnrsses, of it, even of all that they relate. " They did not follow cunningly-devised fiibles, when they made known tlie i)()wir and coming of the Lord Jesus, but were eye-wit- nesses
» Luke xxiv. 39. " Johni. 1 — 4, 14. ° iJohn iv. 14.
» J John V. 9, 11, 12. 1 Johnxiv. 6.